Crutch



April 3, 1945.

G. E. -05:56am 2,373,045

CRUTCH Filed Aug. 22, 1944 Snvento v Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH George E. Osborn, Spokane, Wash.

Application August- 22, 1944, Serial No. 650,560

` (o1. 13s-5o) v upper and lower sections.V Therefore, the upper 4 Claims.

This invention relates to crutches and it is one object of the invention to lprovide -a crutch formed ofmetal tubes or equivalent material and very strong, while light in weight.

Another object cf the invention is to provide a crutch formed of companion sections -so connected with each other that the crutch may be lengthened or shortened-and thus permit the crutch to bc used'by a tall person, a short person, or a person of medium height Another object of the invention is to provide the sections of the crutch with joints so formed that the upper and lower sections may be slid longitudinally in tubular portions of the main section and ends of the tubular portions then constrictedabout the upper and lower sections and grip the same to firmly hold them in a desired position of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide the main section with side rails carrying a hand grip so mounted that it may be vertically adjusted according to the length of a persons arm and then firmly secured in set position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the side rails of the main section with slots for receiving securing screws for the hand grip, thev slots being so formed that the hand grip may be adjusted transversely of the side rails as well as vertically.

Another objectl of the invention is to provide the upper section of the crutch with a cross bar at its upper end formed of tubing to reduce its weight and open at its ends so that air may pass This improved crutch has a. main section I,

an upper section 2, and a lower section 3. The main section is preferably formed of metal tubing, although other materials may be used, and

has upper and lower tubular portions 4 and 5 in-to which the tubular upper and lower sections snugly t. Ends of the tubular portions 4 and 5 Vare formed with longitudinally extending slits 6 and are externally threaded to yreceive the clamping nuts 1 which constrict the slit ends of the portions 4 and 5 when tightened, and cause them to have binding engagement with the tubular M and lower sectionsmay be shifted Vlongitudinally and then rmly secured to provide a crutch of predetermined length and the crutch will be of the proper length for use by a person of ascertained height.

At its upper'end, the upper section 2 carries a cross bar 8 which is also formed vof tubular metal and open at its ends. This cross bar isl curved longitudinally so that it will t comfortably under a persons arm," and upper portions of its ends are rounded longitudinally, as shown at il,` to prevent ends .of the cross' bar from having a tendency to dig into a `persons armpit when the crutch is in use. tion is Welded to the crossbar midway the length thereof, as shown at I0, to form a joint, and this joint is braced by Webs II which prevent strains vfrom wrenching the cross bar loose from the upper section. The lower end of the lower section 3 may be plugged if desired, and this end is covered with a tip I3'of conventional formation to prevent the crutch from slipping when in use.

Midway its length, the main section is provided with side rails I4 and I5 between which extends a hand grip I6. The side rail I4 is formed integral with the upper and lower portions 4 and 5 of the main section and .is formed by flattening the intermediate portion of the tubefrom which this section is formed. This flattened portion is bent to dispose it in oiset relation to the upper and lower portions 4 and 5 and, at their inner ends, the portions 4 and 5 are formed with diagonally extending shoulders I'I to which the flared ends I8 of the side rail I5 are tted and firmly secured by welding. It will thus be seen that vthe side rails will have at inner and outer side faces of greater width than the diameter of the tubular upper and lower portions 4 and 5. This added width is desirable in order that the rails may be formed with slots I9 which extend 1ongitudinally thereof but are disposed diagonally, as shown in Fig. 5. While two slots have been shown in Fig. 5, it will be understood that any number desired may be formed in the side rails. Ends of the slots terminate close to each other and, at their upper ends, the slots are formed with laterally extending downwardly inclined portions 20 forming offset seats at upper ends of the slots. Blocks or lugs 2| are provided in ends of the tubular hand grips and formed with threaded openings to receive screws 22 which pass through the slots I9 and have heads at their outer ends. When the screws are tightened, their heads have binding engagement with outer faces The upper end of the sec- Y of the side rails and firmly hold the hand grip in a vertically adjusted position where it may be conveniently grasped by the person using the crutch. When the screws are at upper ends of the slots, they may be disposed in the seats and the hand grip will be prevented from moving downwardly, even if the screws should work loose. Since the slots extend diagonally, the hand grip will be shifted transversely of the side rails, as it is shifted k.vertically and thus adjusted inwardly or outwardly of the side rails, as well as vertically.

I have, therefore, produced a crutch which can. l

be adjusted for length to accommodate it to the height of a person and have also provided the crutch with a hand grip which may be adjusted vertically according to the length of the users arm.

Having thus described the claimed is:

l. A crutch comprising a main section having tubular upper and lower portions and transversely spaced rails between its upper and lower portions, said rails being attened in cross section and of greater width than the diameter of the. upper and lower portions and formed with longitudinally extending diagonally disposed slots having lateral extensions at their upper ends extending ata downward incline, a tubular hand grip extending between said rails and having blocks in its ends formed with threaded openings, screws passing through the slots of said rails and engaged in the openings of the hand grips, said screws having heads at their outer ends for gripping outer faces of the rails when the screws are tightened and holding the hand grip in a vertically adjusted positions, tubular upper and lower sections fitting snugly within the tubular upper and lower portions of the main section and shiftable vertically therein to adjust the length of the crutch, outer ends of said upper and lower portions of the main section being slit longitudinally and externally threaded, clamping nuts screwed upon the slit ends of said upper invention, what is 'and lower portions to constrictfsame about the upper and lower sections and secure the upper and lower sections in adjusted positions, a tubu` lar cross bar at the upper end of the upper section curved longitudinally and open at its ends, ends of said crosss bar having upper portions rounded,

2. A crutch comprising a main section, an upper section and a lower section, said main section having tubular upper and lower portions and two side rails between its upper and lower portionsLone side rail being formed integral with the said upper and lower portions and flattened and bent to dispose it oiset with respect to said upper and lower portions, inner ends of said upper and lower portions having diagonal shoulders at opposite sides thereof from said side rail, the other side rail having its upper and lower ends bent to dispose it in offset relation to said upper and lower portions and terminating in iiared ends fixed to `said shoulders, said side rails having vertical slots formed therein, a tubular hand grip extending between the side rails, blocks in ends of said hand grip formed with threaded openings, and screws passed through said slots and screwed into the openings of saidv blocks and having heads at their outer ends for gripping the side rails and holding the hand grip in a vertically adjusted position.

3. A crutch comprising a main section, an upper section and a lower section, said main section having tubular upper and lower portions and side rails between its upper and lower portions, a hand grip extending between said side rails, said upper and lower sections fitting snugly within the tubular upper and lower portions of the main section and shiftable longitudinally therein, outer ends of said upper and lower portions being slit longitudinally and externally threaded,

clamping nuts tting snugly about the-upper' and lower sections and screwed upon the slit end portions ofsaid upper and lower portions to constrict same about the upper and lower portions and secure the upper and lower portions in vertically adjusted positions, and a cross bar at the upper end of the upper section.

.4. A crutch comprising a main section having tubular upper and lower portions and side rails between its upper and lower portions, a hand grip mounted transversely between said side rails, upper and lower sections fitting snugly within the upper and lower sections and shiftable longitudinally therein, the outer ends of said upper and lower portions being slit longitudinally, clamps for constricting the slit ends of said upper and lower portions and securing said upper and lower sections ii; adjusted positions, and a cross bar mounted across the upper end of said upper section.

GEORGE E. OSBORN. 

